X-linked agammaglobulinemia (a-gam-uh-glob-u-lih-NEE-me-uh) — or XLA — is an inherited (genetic) immune system disorder that reduces your ability to fight infections. People with XLA may experience infections of the inner ear, sinuses, respiratory tract, bloodstream and internal organs.

XLA affects males almost exclusively, although females can be genetic carriers of the condition. Diagnosis of XLA often occurs in infancy or early childhood, once it's clear that a child has experienced repeated infections. Sometimes, diagnosis doesn't occur until adulthood.

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